Dana Holováčová, Martin Kužma, Zdenko Killinger and Juraj Payer

Background

The purpose of this study was to assess changes in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of nervus medianus by ultrasound in newly diagnosed primary hypothyroid patients after thyroxine replacement treatment.

Patients and methods

The cohort comprised 30 patients with newly diagnosed primary autoimmune hypothyroidism. These were subsequently compared with 30 controls, matched for sex, BMI and age. Ultrasound evaluation, including measurement of CSA at the level of the pisiform bone or tunnel inlet was performed at baseline and after 3months. A CSA threshold of more than 10mm2 was considered pathological.

Aim of the study

Methods

This cross-sectional study evaluated acromegaly patients and a control group of healthy subjects. In all subjects, a single measurement of pituitary axis hormone levels, bone turnover markers, aBMD, (total hip (TH) and lumbar spine (LS)), TBS and 3D-SHAPER of the proximal femur region was performed. All subjects underwent DXA assessment of VF using the semiquantitative approach.

Results

One hundred six patients with acromegaly (mean age 56.6 years, BMI 30.2 kg/m2) and 104 control subjects (mean age 54.06 years, 28.4 BMI kg/m2) were included. After adjustment for weight, LS aBMD, TBS and TH trabecular volumetric BMD (vBMD) remained lower (P = 0.0048, <0.0001 and <0.0001, respectively) while cortical thickness (Cth) at TH and neck remained thicker (P = 0.006) in acromegaly patients compared with controls. The best multivariate model (model 1) discriminating patients with and without acromegaly included TBS, TH trabecular vBMD and TH Cth parameters (all P < 0.05). Twenty-two VFs (13 acromegaly subjects) were recognized. In these subjects after adjustment for age, FN aBMD, TH cortical sBMD and TH cortical vBMD remained significantly associated with the prevalent VF (OR = 2.69 (1.07–6.78), 2.84 (1.24–6.51) and 2.38 (1.11–5.10) for neck aBMD, TH cortical sBMD and TH cortical vBMD respectively)). The AUCs were similar for each parameter in this model.

Conclusions

Acromegaly patients, regardless of VF presence, have lower trabecular bone quantitative parameters, but those with VFs had decreased cortical density.